Widening Participation Work Exposure Award

This award recognises innovative programmes that prepare people for the world of work. These include work experience, employability training or work-related learning. The award goes to a project that shows what can be achieved with effective collaboration between organisations.

The focus of this award is on those programmes that have targeted individuals from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds.

The St George’s Healthcare Shadowing Scheme is a collaboration between St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and St George’s, University of London. Running since 2014, the scheme provides Year 12 students from under-represented groups in higher education with the opportunity to shadow a working healthcare professional at St George’s or Queen Mary’s Hospital in South London. In addition, students attend events either side of their clinical placement to ensure they are fully prepared and able to reflect on their experiences, and receive financial assistance to cover travel expenses.

One student said ‘It was one of the best opportunities I’ve encountered’.

The award goes to St Georges, University of London, and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Contact details: Helen White, Head of Widening Participation, St George’s, University of London. Email: hwhite@sgul.ac.uk